Assembly for use in a coffee machine for preparing coffee, container and pouch of said assembly

ABSTRACT

The assembly for use in a coffee machine comprises a container having a bowl-shaped inner space bounded by a bottom having at least one outlet opening and at least one vertical sidewall. The assembly further comprises a pill-shaped pouch manufactured from filtering paper and filled with ground coffee, accommodated in the inner space of the container. The pouch extends over the bottom to a position adjacent the vertical sidewall. In the bottom, a number of channel-shaped grooves are provided, extending in radial direction of the container to the outlet opening. The grooves extend from a position located at a distance from the sidewall in the direction of the outlet opening. This prevents bypass.

The invention relates to an assembly for use in a coffee machine forpreparing coffee, comprising a container having a bowl-shaped innerspace bounded by a bottom having at least one outlet opening and atleast one vertical sidewall and, included in the inner space of thecontainer, a pill-shaped pouch manufactured from filtering paper andfilled with ground coffee, which pouch rests on the bottom and extendsover the bottom to a position adjacent the vertical sidewall, whileprovided in the bottom are a number of channel-shaped grooves extendingin radial direction of the bowl-shaped inner space to the outlet openingand, in use, hot water is fed under pressure to a top side of thecontainer by means of the coffee machine, causing the hot water to bepressed from a top side of the pouch through the pouch for extractingthe ground coffee included in the pouch, the coffee extract formedflowing from a bottom side of the pouch and from the container via theoutlet.

Such assembly is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,155. The inner space ofthe container thereof is of rectangular design. From each corner pointof the inner space, a groove extends to the outlet opening provided inthe center of the bottom. The pouch is likewise of rectangular designand has dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the inner space ofthe container. Accordingly, a circumferential edge of the pouch islocated adjacent the vertical sidewall of the container.

A problem of the known assembly is that in use, a portion of the hotwater that is poured onto the pouch flows along the side edge of thepouch to the end of a groove located at a corner point of the container.This hot water then flows via the groove directly to the outlet opening.This involves a so-called bypass effect. As a consequence, not thecomplete amount of hot water that is fed at the top side of thecontainer flows via the pouch to the outlet opening. Consequently, thecoffee extract, which is for instance received in a container disposedunder the outlet opening, is diluted with hot water. This will give thecoffee extract an undesired strength. It is not possible to makeallowance for the bypass effect during the preparation of coffee,because it is not known beforehand what amount of water will flow aroundthe pouch and, via the grooves, to the outlet opening.

The object of the invention is to provide a solution to the problemposed, and accordingly, the invention is characterized in that each ofsaid grooves extends from a position located at a distance from thesidewall in a direction away from the sidewall.

As the grooves do not extend to the sidewall, this has the surprisingresult that the bypass effect is substantially decreased. In accordancewith a first further elaboration of the invention, it applies that thechannel-shaped grooves extend in radial direction of the bowl-shapedinner space to the outlet opening, each of said grooves extending fromthe position located at a distance from the sidewall in the direction ofthe outlet opening. In particular, in this variant, the bypass effectproves to be negligibly small when it applies that the smallest distancebetween each of said grooves on one side and the vertical sidewall onthe other is greater than 10% of a maximum diameter of the inner spaceof the container.

Preferably, it applies that the smallest distance between each of saidgrooves on one side and the vertical sidewall on the other is at leastsubstantially equal to 20% of the maximum diameter of the inner space ofthe container.

The pouch extends to a position adjacent the vertical sidewall of thecontainer. This means that it is essential to the invention that thedimensions of the pouch and the container be adjusted to each other.When the pouch is for instance of smaller design, the undesired bypasseffect will occur in spite of the fact that said grooves extend from aposition located at a distance from the sidewall in the direction of theoutlet opening. Hence, the invention is incorporated in the specificproperties of the container and the specific dimensions of the pouchwhich correspond therewith.

In particular, a bottom of the pouch has a shape substantiallycorresponding to the shape of the bottom of the container. In that case,the extraction will be optimal and the bypass effect minimal.

Preferably, the pouch comprises a disk-shaped top sheet and adisk-shaped bottom sheet which are interconnected adjacent theirlongitudinal edges, the interconnected parts of the top and bottomsheets forming an annular sealing seam.

The width of each of the grooves may vary from, for instance, 1 to 4 mm.In particular, the width approximately equals 2 mm. If the width of thegrooves is chosen too great, this has as a consequence that a relativelylarge portion of the filtering area will be clear. This entails the riskof too little pressure being built up in the container and the flow ofliquid through the filter becoming too great. This has a negative effecton the coffee-making efficiency.

When the assembly is used for preparing one or two cups of coffee, itapplies that the diameter of the inner space of the container ispreferably approximately equal to 74 mm and that the diameter of thepouch is also approximately equal to 74 mm. Likewise, it applies thatthe diameter of a coffee bed formed in the pouch is in that caseapproximately equal to 61 mm. If the dimensions of the pouch are chosento be different, i.e. greater or smaller, there is again the risk ofbypass. Moreover, it has been found that in that case the coffee-makingefficiency is not optimal, either. In accordance with a second furtherelaboration of the invention, it applies that the bottom is providedwith a number of vertical projections which are arranged at regulardistances relative to each other, said projections being formed by theinterspaces formed between the vertical projections.

It is observed that U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,797 also discloses a containerin which a pouch can be included for preparing coffee. The containercomprises a bottom having vertical ribs. This arrangement implies thatbetween the ribs recesses are present whose lowest point is formed bythe bottom of the container. However, these recesses are so wide that nobottom having grooves is involved here. Indeed, the surface area coveredby the recesses is greater than the surface area covered by the ribs. Inaccordance with the invention, however, it applies that the area of thegrooves is smaller than the area of those parts of the bottom where nogrooves are provided. Hence, in the above US patent, no groovesaccording to the present invention are involved.

The invention will now be specified with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of a container accordingto the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken on the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged part of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross section of a pouch taken on the line IV-IV of FIG. 5,associated with the container according to FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the pouch according to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross section of an assembly according to the invention,consisting of the container of FIGS. 1-3 and the pouch of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a containeraccording to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross section of the container according to FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the container according to FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 shows a projection of the container according to FIG. 7.

An assembly 1 according to the invention for use in a coffee machine forpreparing coffee comprises a container 2 (see FIGS. 1-3 and FIG. 6) anda pouch 4 (see FIGS. 5-6) included in an inner space 6 of the container2. The inner space 6 is of bowl-shaped design and is bounded by a bottom8 and at least one vertical sidewall 10. Because in this example, theinner space 6 and the pouch 4 are of cylindrical design, this impliesthat the container 2 in fact only comprises a single verticalcylindrical sidewall 10 which is round and closed in itself.

Located in the bottom 8 is at least one and in this example only oneoutflow opening 12. Further provided in the bottom are a number ofchannel-shaped grooves 14 extending in radial direction of the innerspace 6 to the outlet opening 12. The grooves each have a bottom 16sloping down in the direction of the outlet opening 12. In this example,each bottom 16 of a groove 14 makes an angle α relative to the verticalwhich is equal to approximately 85°. It further applies that the groovesin this example each have a rectangular cross section. However, this isnot necessarily the case. Other shapes are possible as well.

Each of the grooves 14 extends from a position 18 located at a distancefrom the sidewall 10 in the direction of the outlet opening 12. Thetotal area occupied by the grooves is smaller than the total area of thebottom 8 that is not occupied by the grooves 14. In this example, thecontainer is provided with 12 grooves, adjacent grooves enclosing anangle β of about 30°.

The pouch 4 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) is pill-shaped and manufactured fromfiltering paper and filled with ground coffee. The pouch comprises adisk-shaped top sheet 20 manufactured from filtering paper and adisk-shaped bottom sheet 22 likewise manufactured from filtering paper.The disk-shaped bottom sheet and the disk-shaped top sheet areinterconnected adjacent the longitudinal edges 24, the interconnectedparts of the top and bottom sheets forming an annular sealing seam 26.

When the pouch 4 is inserted into the container 2 (see FIG. 6), itextends over the bottom 8 of the container 2 to a position adjacent thevertical sidewall 10 of the container 2 (see also FIG. 6). In thisexample, it applies that the smallest distance d between each of saidgrooves 14 on one side and the vertical sidewall 10 on the other isgreater than 10% of the maximum diameter D of the inner space of thecontainer 2. In this example, it even applies that the smallest distanced between each of said grooves 14 on one side and the vertical sidewall10 on the other is at least substantially equal to 20% of the maximumdiameter D of the inner space of the container 2.

The bottom 8 comprises an outer horizontal annular bottom part 28bounding the sidewall 10. The bottom 8 further comprises an innersaucer-shaped bottom part 30 bounding an inner edge 32 of the annularbottom part 28. Adjacent the annular bottom part 28, the saucer-shapedbottom part 30 slopes downwards in a direction away from the sidewall.In this example, the grooves extend exclusively in the saucer-shapedbottom part. More in particular, it applies in this example that each ofsaid grooves extends from a position 18 located at a distance from theinner edge 32 of the annular bottom part 28 in the direction of theoutlet opening 12. The container is preferably dimensioned such that thesmallest distance d′ between each of said channels 14 on one side andthe inner edge 32 of the annular bottom part 28 on the other is greaterthan 10% of the maximum diameter D′ of the saucer-shaped bottom part 30.

Provided in the center of the saucer-shaped bottom part 30 is a recess34, with the outlet opening 12 being located in a bottom 36 of therecess 34. The pouch preferably has a bottom which in this example isformed by the bottom sheet 22 whose shape substantially corresponds tothe shape of the bottom 8 of the container.

In use, the pouch 4 is inserted into the container 2, as shown in FIG.6. The assembly 1 is then inserted into a coffee machine known per se.The coffee machine comprises a cover 38 closing off the assembly 1 assoon as it has been placed in the machine. The cover 38 comprises anopening 40 through which, via a hose 42, hot water can be fed to theinner space 6 of the container. Adjacent its circumferential edge, thecover further comprises a sealing ring 44 closed in itself.

The sealing seam 26 of the pouch 4 is located between the sealing ring44 and the annular bottom part 28. When, in use, hot water issubsequently fed to the inner space 4 of the assembly via the hose 42, apressure is created in the inner space 6. Due to this pressure, thesealing ring 44 moves outwards in radial direction to sealingly abutagainst the vertical sidewall 10. Next, the hot water will penetrateinto the pouch 4 via the top sheet 20. In the pouch 4, the coffeeextract is then formed. This coffee extract will subsequently leave thepouch again via the bottom sheet 22. In particular in places where thegrooves 14 are present, the coffee extract can flow from the pouch. Inpositions between the grooves 14, little or no extract will in principleflow from the pouch. The effect thus achieved is that the hot water doesnot flow through the pouch too fast. This again results in that thecoffee-making efficiency will be optimal.

The coffee extract ending up in the grooves 14 will subsequently flow tothe recess 34 and leave the container 2 via the outlet opening 12. Underthe container 2, a cup can for instance be placed which is filled withthe coffee extract. As the channel-shaped grooves 14 slope downwards inthe direction of the recess 34, a proper flow through the pouch ispromoted. It is also guaranteed that no bypass occurs. This means thatthe hot water fed to the container does not flow to the outlet opening12 without moving through the coffee bed included in the pouch. This isguaranteed in that in accordance with the invention, said grooves extendfrom a position 18 located at a distance from the sidewall in thedirection of the outlet opening. Where no grooves are present, thebottom of the pouch 4 directly rests on the bottom of the container 8.Hence, at these positions, the hot water can hardly flow from the pouch,if at all. This implies that at first, no water can from to the outletopening 12 from a top side of the pouch through the sealing seam of thepouch. If this actually happened, pure water, i.e. no coffee extract,would flow to the outlet opening 12, causing a bypass effect. The coffeeextract received in a cup would then be diluted with hot water.

Because according to the present embodiment, it applies that thesmallest distance d between each of the grooves on one side and thevertical sidewall on the other is greater than 10% of the maximumdiameter D of the inner space of the container, it is guaranteed thatthe bypass effect will at least substantially not occur.

If the hot water flowed through the coffee bed at a position locatedadjacent the sealing seam 26, the effect occurring would be that thecoffee-making efficiency is not optimal. After all, at this position,the height of the coffee bed is relatively low, so that the flow-throughwill be relatively fast. Moreover, the flow of liquid chooses the pathof least resistance, so that a disproportionately large part of the hotwater will flow through this portion of the coffee bed. As in accordancewith the invention, it further applies that the smallest distance d′between each of the grooves on one side and the inner edge of theannular bottom part on the other is greater than 10% of the maximumdiameter D′ of the annular bottom part 28, it is provided that thiseffect does not occur and the coffee-making efficiency is in factoptimal. As it is, the channel-shaped grooves 14 do not extend topositions where the coffee bed of the pouch 4 is relatively thin. As thebottom of the pouch has a shape substantially corresponding to the shapeof the bottom of the container, said dimensions of the grooves 14 can beoptimally utilized. Because it applies in particular that the dimensionsof the bottom disk-shaped sheet 22 from a center of the sheet to theannular sealing seam correspond to the dimensions of the saucer-shapedbottom part 30, it applies that said optimum extraction efficiency isachieved. It also applies that the annular sealing seam has dimensionssubstantially corresponding to the dimensions of the annular bottompart. This also implies that a pouch inserted into the container isoptimally and unequivocally positioned in the container. The pouch as itwere automatically searches the position in which it is supposed to belocated.

In this example, the assembly is intended for preparing one cup ofcoffee. For that reason, the diameter of the inner space of thecontainer is approximately equal to 74 mm. To effect that the bypasseffect does not occur, it applies that the diameter of the pouch is alsoapproximately equal to 74 mm. Of course, the other above-discussedconditions should be met as well in order to minimize the bypass effect.It further applies that the diameter of a coffee bed formed in the pouchis approximately equal to 61 mm. This diameter corresponds to thediameter of the annular bottom part 28. This diameter, too, isparticularly suitable for preparing one cup of coffee. Since the twodiameters are chosen to be equal, it moreover applies that when theabove conditions are also met, the bypass effect is minimized, while thecoffee-making efficiency is maximized.

The invention is by no means limited to the embodiment of the containeroutlined hereinabove. FIGS. 7-9 show an alternative embodiment of thecontainer. Parts corresponding to those of the container which isdiscussed with reference to FIGS. 1-6 are provided with identicalreference numerals.

The container entirely corresponds to the container discussed withreference to FIGS. 1-6, the difference being that the grooves 14 areshaped differently. In this example, however, it applies that the bottomis provided with a number of vertical projections arranged at regulardistances relative to each other. The grooves 14 are formed by theinterspaces formed between the vertical projections 46. In this example,the vertical projections 46 are substantially of cylindrical design. Asis clearly visible in FIG. 7, the projections are arranged in rows andcolumns relative to each other. As a result, the channel-shaped groovesformed between the projections are in parallel and perpendiculararrangement relative to each other.

It further applies that at the bottom side 50 of the projections, theinterspaces 49 formed between the projections cover 75-94% of the totalsurface area of the bottom that is provided with projections. Hence,this involves a total area of the saucer-shaped bottom part 30, less theportion of the saucer-shaped bottom part which, adjacent the annularbottom part 28, slopes downwards in a direction away from the sidewall.

It further applies that in this example, the projections have their topsides provided with a round tip. The operation of the containeraccording to FIGS. 7-10 is completely analogous with that of thecontainer according to FIGS. 1-6. In the container of FIGS. 7-9, thepouch of FIG. 4 can be placed. Also, the cover 38 can be used forclosing off the container, the sealing ring 44 again being locatedwithin the vertical sidewall 10 of the container of FIGS. 7-10.

In accordance with another variant of the invention, the container maybe provided with a larger number of projections 46 than shown in FIGS.7-10. In that case, however, the projections may have a much smallercross section.

In the embodiment outlined with reference to FIGS. 7-10, it applies thatthe center-to-center distance of the projections is 3-5 mm, inparticular about 4.2 mm. The radius R adjacent the bottom side of theprojections may vary from, for instance, 0.5 to 2 mm and is in thisexample about 1 mm. Such variants are each understood to fall within theframework of the invention.

As discussed hereinabove, the invention relates to a container on oneside and a pouch on the other, optimally adjusted to each other. Hence,the invention is embodied both in the container and in the pouch. As thecontainer has a diameter of 74 mm, the pouch will have to have an atleast substantially equal diameter. Accordingly, such pouch isunderstood to fall within the framework of the invention.

1-24. (canceled)
 25. A pouch for use in a container of a coffee machineand for preparing coffee by the passage of water therethrough, thecontainer having a well section therein; said pouch being formed fromfilter paper and holding coffee grounds; said pouch having a pill-shapedcentral portion, said central portion being surrounded by a flat annularsealing portion; whereby the central portion of said pouch is adapted tolay flat in said well of said container while said sealing portiondirects all water through said pouch.
 26. An assembly according to claim25 wherein a bottom of the pouch has a shape substantially correspondingto the shape of the well of the container.
 27. An assembly according toclaim 25 wherein the pouch comprises a disk-shaped top sheet and adisk-shaped bottom sheet which are interconnected adjacent theirlongitudinal edges, the interconnected parts of the top and bottomsheets forming said annular sealing portion.
 28. An assembly accordingto claim 27 wherein the dimensions of the bottom disk-shaped sheet froma center of the sheet to the annular sealing portion correspond to thedimensions of the well.
 29. An assembly according to claim 25 whereinthe annular sealing portion has dimensions substantially correspondingto the dimensions of an annular bottom part of said container.
 30. Anassembly according to claim 25 wherein the diameter of the innter spaceof the container is approximately equal to the diameter of the pouch.31. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the diameter of said centralportion of said pouch is about 74 MM.
 32. The accembly of claim 25wherein the diameter of a coffee bed formed in the pouch isapproximately equal to 61 mm.
 33. A pouch for use in a container of acoffee machine and for preparing coffee by the passage of watertherethrough, the container having a well section therein; said pouchbeing formed from filter paper and holding coffee grounds; said pouchhaving a pill-shaped central portion, said central portion beingsurrounded by a flat annular sealing portion; said pouch comprising apair of substantially conforming to the well section and oppositelydisposed disk-shaped portions, interconnected at said annular sealingportion; and whereby the central portion of said pouch is adapted to layflat in said well of said container while said sealing portion directsall water through said pouch.